Drink Wisely and Carry a Big Straw

Stand – Toasted Marshmallow Shake
Stand

On a high from our artery-clogging free brunch, we trot down Park Avenue to Greenwich Village in search of Michael Symon’s favorite SUGAR RUSH snack: the Toasted Marshmallow Shake from Stand.

Not concerned that it is 14-degrees outside (in truth, Ginger Orchid is mildly concerned), we believe that a frigid milkshake is just the thing to quench our cheese-smothered palates.

Still feeling somewhat conspicuous about our planned eating adventure, we approach the hostess sheepishly.

“Um, can we get a toasted marshmallow shake, like, to go?” Ginger Orchid asks.  Of course we can.  We fork over $7 for our shake (which at the time seems excessive, until we taste the thing), and we sit on the bench by the front door like two second graders in time out at recess, waiting for the delivery of our cup of heaven.

Heaven in a Cup

After covert journeys to the Stand bathroom (which features chalk and blackboard walls, in case you’re looking to regress to the stall graffiti of your high school days), our milkshake arrives.

And the cup-to-straw ratio is downright ridiculous.

Drink Wisely and Carry a Big Straw

At first, we scoff at this creation – for $7 and no alcohol, we expected a supersized McDonald’s cup.  Instead we have what appears to be a Dixie cup under the weight of the walking stick-sized straw.

But when we taste the Toasted Marshmallow shake, suddenly the aesthetics no longer matter.  We would have sipped the creation out of a pipe if we had to.  It is milky, creamy milkshake goodness, with an unexpected burst of marshmallow love hitting your tongue at the end of the sip.  In the middle of the cup rests an actual toasted marshmallow, which is divided between us as if it were the last bit of food at the bottom of a mine shaft.

No milkshake that has come before or after this one will ever compare.  You, Michael Symon, know your stuff.  We have found our first Best Thing We Have Ever Eaten.

(As a sidenote, Vodka Stinger has returned to Stand and ordered the Toasted Marshmallow shake spiked with booze.  Like nothing else in life, this shake is legitimately more delicious sans alcohol.  So get bombed some place else, and drink only virgin milkshakes).

Spiked Toasted Marshmallow Shakes

Stand’s Toasted Marshmallow Shake: 5 stars*

*Certifiable Best Thing We Ever Ate